Colin Powell

Manifesto

Unlike every other prominent Republican, Colin Powell doesn't appear to be a complete shill for GOP.

"There was more than enough warning over time about the dangers to New Orleans. Not enough was done. I don't think advantage was taken of the time that was available to us, and I just don't know why," Powell said in excerpts on ABC's Web site.

He also addresses whether he thinks race is an issue:

"I don't think it's racism, I think it's economic," Powell said. "But poverty disproportionately affects African-Americans in this country. And it happened because they were poor."

I think he gets that right too. It isn't that George Bush doesn't like black people, necessarily (sorry, Kanye), it's that George Bush doesn't like poor people. Of course, neither does much of the GOP. Check out this gem by LA representative Baker (R-Baton Rouge):

"We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans. We couldn't do it, but God did."(hat tip to Armando at DailyKos)

Of course with good Colin Powell news, there has to be at least one stupid comment.

Asked whether the statement about WMD tarnished his reputation, the former general responded: "Of course it will. It's a blot. I'm the one who presented it on behalf of the United States to the world and [it] will always be a part of my record. It was painful. It's painful now."

A blot? Really? That's it? Just a blot. Hey Colin, if you are going to admit a mistake, do it and take responsibility. Don't talk about how it is a "blot" on your record. You know what is a blot on your record... a 2.5 GPA or being fired from Popeye's. Going to the international community and spreading faulty intelligence that, it now appears at least somebody in the administration knew was incorrect or at least unrealiable, little more than a "blot." Nice attempt to both take responsibility and minimize the damage at the same time. Ass clown.